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Archbishop Coakley on overturn of Oklahoma morning-after pill law: “We offer support to women who fear an unintended pregnancy”

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 24, 2014) – Oklahoma County District Judge Lisa Davis yesterday ruled that an Oklahoma law that requires women 17 and older to have a prescription and show identification to obtain emergency contraceptives violates the state constitution.

The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, today said the ruling underscores the ongoing need for increased cultural awareness of the risks and consequences of emergency contraceptives, as well as for support of women who wish to choose life when they find themselves unexpectedly pregnant.

“Judge Davis overturned the Oklahoma morning-after pill law on a technicality; she said the two sections of the law were not germane and violated the single-subject rule of the state constitution,” the archbishop said. “It is her responsibility as a judge to consider such technicalities.

“However, it is our responsibility as men and women of good will to ensure that a young woman who fears a crisis pregnancy knows that emergency contraceptives are not risk-and-consequence-free – and to ensure she knows she will have the support she needs to choose life should she indeed find herself unexpectedly pregnant.

“I and the priests and staff of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City offer our support to such women. We will gladly listen to them, pray with them, counsel them and connect them to local resources, such as those offered by Birth Choice of Oklahoma.

“It is my prayer that this ruling will not obscure the genuine love, compassion and practical assistance available to any woman who fears or faces an unintended pregnancy – assistance that takes into account her whole person and the sanctity of life as the impersonal distribution or sale of emergency contraceptives never can.”